Auxiliary feeder for hat formers



May 3, 1949. H. F. FITCH AUXILIARY FEEDER FOR HAT FORMERS 2 SheQ tS -Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1945 y 3, 1949- H. F. FITCH v AUXILIARY FEEDER FOR HAT FORMERS Filed Jan. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-3.

Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE AUXILIARY FEEDER FORHA T FQRMERS Herbert F. Fitch, Norwalk, Conn.

Application January 4, 1945, Serial No. 571,266

14 Claims.

This invention relates to fur feeders for hat formers, and more particularly to an auxiliary feeder to be used with the main feeder which feeds the fur to the former, andits combination with it.

It has for an object to provide an improved means-for feeding the fur to theconveyor apron for the feeder to the former, and operating so that the fur will be softer and more evenly distributed on this apron or conveyor, and so will be more evenly distributed and in a better condition to the main feeder and by it to the former.

It is also an objectto provide an interconnected control for the main and auxiliary feeders to be controlled by the operator of the former in conjunction with the forming operation.

It is a further object to provide a construction and arrangement in which the feed and control of the fur from the weigher to the former is substantially automatic, and'one person can "there- With the foregoing and other objects in view,

I have devised the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying'drawing forming a part of this specification, the showing being somewhat diagrammatic.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and partial section of the auxiliary feeding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation .and partialsec- 'tion of the main feed and .the former showing the feed apron or conveyor for feeding the fur to this feeder, andalso showing the discharge chamber from the auxiliary feeder located over this conveyor;

Fig. 3 is-a partialend View and partial transverse vertical section looking from the right of Fig. 2, but with the former omitted;

Fig. 4 is a-detail View of a portion of the control device, and

Figs..5 and 6 are detailed sections substantially onthe lines --5 .and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 1.

In the drawing the former is shown at tO-With the usual perforated come it therein on which the 'felt cone or :hat body is formed-by:deposit of the fur thereon, and which cone is-conneotedwith the usual suction device: (not shown) The front side of the. former -is c1osed during the =for-riding operation by the'phinged door or: closure it 2 which allowsaccess :tothe former: for removal of the lconeandehat bodyfian d replacement of a new cone. The feeder comprises -a movable apron 2 comprising an endless conveyor or belt l3 associated with the discharge end of which is a pair of feedrollers I4, an'd on the outlet or discharge side of these rollers is a picker roll I5. This picker with the feed .rolls is located at the lower end ofan upwardly inclined chute ['6 at the upper end ofwhich is a rotatabledrum [1. This drum is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and preferably comprises a wire mesh cylindrical :screen l8. At the opposite or deliveryside of the drum is a pair of feed rollers t9 with a picker roll zit at the outlet ordischarge side thereof. On the other side of the picker roll is a rotatable drum 2:! which blows or throws the-fur over the platform 22 so that it is-drawn into .the former l0 and deposited on the cone II, as indicated at 23. Means is provided for driving the apron or conveyor l3-' and rotating the drum I! by a partial revolution. In the. present case, .during each operation the drum H makes a half revolution, and the driving mechanism for the drum and the conveyor apron l3are so constructed and arranged that the conveyor-isxdriven .to feed'fur to the feed rolls l4 and the picker :.only when the drum l I is stationary, and whilethe drum H is making .a'fhalf' revolution the conveyor [3 is stationary .so-that there is-nofur fed tothe drum at this time.

It'will be understood thatvarious driving mechanisms for-carrying out the operation described maybe provided, but'bywayof illustration I have :shownsomew'hat diagrammatically a -motor and :belt drive. The motor, such as-an electric motor, indicated-at 21, drivesbymeans of the belt 25 a pulley 26 on the maindrive shaft 21. Mounted on this shaft aretwo spa'ced pulleys 28 and 29 W hichare loose on' the'shaf-t' but may be driven therefrom by means of the'clutch cones 30 and 3| respectively, Whichare splined'to the shaft and maybe shifted to engage correspondingly tapered recesses in thehubs of the pulleys for driving them. A fork 32 engages these cones to slide them on the shaft and 'is mounted on a transversely slidable ro'd'33' adapted to shift the clutch cones from one pulley to the other. A spring 35 connected to the fork tends to shift the fork and the rod 33 together with the cone to the right as shown in Fig. 3 to engagethecone 30 with the hub of the pulley 28. The pulley 28 is connected by a belt 35'to the driving means for the conveyor l3. The pulley 29 is connected by a belt 31 to a countershaft '38"andfrom there by a belt 39 to a pulley dr'ivimg' agear AU-meshing with another gear 41' which drivesthe feed rollers Hi. There is also a driving means such as a belt 42 from this driving means to a pulley 43 on the shaft of the drum H. The drum shaft also carries a disc 44 having stop notches or shoulders 45 at diametrically opposite sides thereof adapted to engage the end of a bar 46 to hold the drum stationary while the fur is being deposited on the drum. This bar 46 is connected to the slidable rod 33 so as to be movable therewith and may be guided by a suitable guide 41. The picker and the feed rolls M are constantly driven from the main drive shaft 21 by means of belts 4B and 49. The picker 20 and the feed drum 2| are driven from the main shaft through the belt 50. The two pickers are driven constantly, While the drum I1 and the conveyor l3 are driven alternately, as described.

Also connected with the shaft of the drum I! by pulleys 5|, 52 and a connecting belt 53 is a cam disc 54 carrying a cam 55 and provided with a notch or shoulder 55 adapted to cooperate with a stop roller 51 on an upright slidable rod 58 guided for slidable movement in a suitable guide 59. The pulley 5| is twice the diameter of the pulley 52 so that a half revolution of the drum I! will cause a full revolution of the cam disc 54, and the cam 55 is adapted to control a mercoid switch 65 which controls an auxiliary feed, as will presently be described.

The driving mechanism for the drum I1 and the conveyor l3 and the associated elements are so arranged that they are controlled personally by the coner from his position at the front of the former ill to start the drum rotating to feed the fur deposited thereon to the former and at the same time stop the conveyor l3, while automatic means is provided for stoppin the drum IT at the end of a half revolution, that is, after the proper amount of fur for a hat body has been transferred from this drum to the former l6 and then .to start the conveyor I3 so that the fur which has been deposited thereon by the auxiliary feeder will be transferred to and deposited on the drum I! for the next feeding operation. This control is shown as a shaft 6| extending to a position adjacent the coners position and provided with a foot treadle 62 for operation by the coner. This shaft carries a lever 63 connected by a link 64 with the upright rod 58 so that depression of the treadle will shift the rod 58 downwardly and withdraw the stop roller 51 from the. notch 56 in the cam disc 54. The shaft 6| also carries an arm 65 connected with the. slidable rod 33 by a pin and slot connection 66 so that depression of the pedal 62 will swing this arm 65 to the left, as shown in Fig. 3, and will at the same time shift the rod 33 to the left carrying with it the fork 32 and the cones 36 and 3| to shift the cone 3|] from engagement with the hub of the pulley 28 and move cone 3| into engagement with the hub of the pulley 29. Shifting of the rod 33 will also shift the stop bar 46 outwardly or to the left as shown in dotted lines Fig. 3, to withdraw the end of this rodfrom Whichever notch 45 in the disc 44 in which it may be seated and thus release the drum As previously indicated, the spring 34 tends to shift the rod 33 and the parts connected therewith to the right or to their normal position, as shown in full lines, Fig. 3, after pressure on the treadle 62 is released.

The auxiliary feed comprises a housing 61 over the apron or conveyor l3 and this housing preferably has glass side and end walls 58 and 69 so that the interior of the housing may be observed, but the top is open and covered by a wire mesh screen 10. The lower edge H of the end wall 69 is spaced above the conveyor l3 to permit the fur deposited on this conveyor to be fed to the feed rollers l4. A pipe 12 leads to the interior of the housing 61 to carry fur to the housing for deposit on the apron or conveyor l3. At the opposite end this pipe is connected to the discharge or outlet 13 from a suction fan 14 of a blower in a stationary housing 75. This fan is connected to one end of a tapered drum or truncated cone 16 provided on its surface with a series of teeth or spikes TI and mounted on a shaft 18 driven by E pulleys 19 through belts 86 from an electric motor 8|, and the fan and drum form a blower which is driven constantly while the machine is in operation. At the opposite end of the housing 15 and drum it from the fan 14 is an inlet 832 controlled by a vertical slidable shutter or closure 83 at the lower end of an inclined chute 84 leading to this inlet. Mounted in this chute just above the shutter 83 is a tooth studded feed cylinder 65 provided on its surface with a series of pins or studs 85. This cylinder is mounted on a transverse shaft and is driven slowly through a reducing drive mechanism from a motor 8'! controlled by the switch 55. The shutter or closure 83 is mounted on a lever 88 pivotally supported at 89 and connected by any suitable means 90 with any suitable operating-means, such for example as the armature 9| of a solenoid 92 controlled by the mercoid switch 60, which is in turn controlled by cam 55 on the former feeder. The solenoid 92 and motor 81 may be controlled directly from the switch 6|! through leads 65a or through suitable relays. The shutter or closure 83 closes automatically by its own weight when the solenoid is deenergized. Although a solenoid is shown, it will be understood any suitable operating means may be used. For example, an air, hydraulic, mechanical or similarly operated device may be used.

The operation is as follows:

The proper amount of fur for a hat is weighed out and placed on the inclined chute 84, and it slides down this chute to the small toothed or spiked cylinder which revolves slowly when the shutter or closure 83 is open. This cylinder holds back the fur so that it does not go into the housing 15 too rapidly, permitting the fur to be torn apart more thoroughly. This roll is driven through a reducing drive from the motor 81, and the automatic shutter 83 and the motor 81 are controlled by the mercoid switch 60 through the cam 55. The fur passes through the inlet 62, it bein drawn into the housing with air drawn in by the suction fan 14, and it is thoroughly separated by the teeth or spikes on the drum l6 and blown into the pipe 12 by the suction fan 14, and carried by this pipe into the screened housing 6'! over the apron or conveyor l3 where it settles onto this conveyor, the air passing out the top screen HI.

As the operator at the former I0, after taking out the former cone with a previously deposited hat body on it and putting in a new cone, steps on the treadle 62, it Withdraws the stop 51 from the notch 56 in the cam disc 54. It also shifts the rod 33 and with it the bar stop 46 to withdraw the end of this bar from the notch 45 in the disc 44, and it further shifts the clutch 3| to the pulley 29 to start rotation of the perforated drum I! to transfer the fur from this drum through the picker 20 to the former I0 and the cone therein. As previously stated, the pickers l5 and are operating continuously. At the same-time, depression of the pedal stops the feed apron ii in front of the feeder because itmoves the cone 30- awayfrom the pulley 28. As the drum I1 starts to rotate, it starts to rotate the cam disc 54' and throws the mercoid switch 80- to start the auxiliary feed by energizing the solenoid 92 tolift or open the shutter 83 and starting motor 81. This feeds air and fur to the cone 76, and the fan 14 blows them through pipe 12 to the housing 61' over the apron or conveyor I 3 in the manner previously described.

When the arm of the switch 60 drops off the cam 55, the auxiliary feed stops, but this takes place before the completion of the revolution. of the disc 54. However, during the restof the rotation of this cam disc, the fur'in the discharge box or housing 61' is settlingionto thefeed apron I 3 which is stationary at this time. At completion of the half revolution of the drum II and the full revolution of the cam disc 54, the stop 51 1s raised by action ofthe spring 34 and enters the notch 56, thus stopping rotation of the cam disc, and at the same time the-clutch 31 is shifted to stop rotation of the perforated feeder drum l1 and transfer of fur from this drum to the former, the rotation of this drum being also arrested by entrance of the end of-the bar 46 into one of the notches 45 'in the disc. As the clutch 3.1 is shifted the clutch 3|]- is also shifted to engage the pulley 28 to start the feed apron or conveyor l3 to transfer the fur which has settled on thisapron to the now stationary perforated drum ll. While this is being done the operator removes the formed hat body or cone from the former I0 and places anew cone in place to receive a new hat body. When this is done and the fur has been transferred from the apron I3 to the perforated drum l1, he again steps on the treadle 62 and the entire operation is repeated.

As the entire operation of transferring the fur from the chute 84 to the former I0 is substantially automatic, the operator weighing out the fur merely has to see that the proper amount of fur. is deposited in the chute 84 before the auxiliary feeder begins to operate. He can therefore weigh out the fur for several machines, and with this arrangement can weigh the fur for threemachines without any difliculty. Inordinary operation the fur is placed directly by the weigher on the feed apron l3, but with this auxiliary feeder it is separated .more thoroughly and is deposited on the apron [3 in a much softer and more uniformly distributed condition, resulting in a much more evenand uniform distribution of the fur, and in a better condition, on the feed drum 1-1. This all results in feeding of the fur to the former l0 much more uniformly and in better condition, resulting in better hat bodies, and the whole operation may be controlled by the coner operating the former and in proper timed relation tothe forming of the hat body and its removal from the former.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat'formers including a movable conveyor, means for transferring fur from the conveyor to the former, and an auxiliary feeder for feeding, fur to the conveyor comprising a housing over the conveyor; a blower for separating the. fur and feeding it to the housing including a second housing and a tooth studded drum and suction fan in said second housing, a conduit leading from the fan: to thefirsthousing, and means for feedingfur to the second. housing and drum in.- cluding an inclined .chute lead-ing to said housing, a closure controlling the:- entrance to the housing, and a, slowly rotating toothed cylinder in the chute adjacent the closure to control passagewof the fur down the chute.

2.v In. a device of" the character described, a feeder for hat formers including a movable con.- veyor, means for transferring fur from the con.- veyor to' the former, means controlling said transferring means for-intermittent operation, an auxi-liary feeder for supplying fur to the conveyor including a housing over the conveyor, a blower for supplying fur and air to the housing including a second housing, a conically shaped drum in the second housing: having a tooth. studded surface, a suction fan at the larger end of the drum, a discharge conduit leading from the fan to the first housing, a feed chute for fur leading to the smaller end of the drum, means for controlling feed of fur from the chute to the drum-,. and means connected with said fur transferring means and operated in timed relation therewith to control said means for controlling feed of fur.

3. In a device of the. character described, a feeder for hat formers including a movableholder for fur, means fo-rtransferring fur from said holder to. the former; means for intermittently driving the holder, means for feeding fur to the holder including a movable conveyor, means for intermittently driving-the conveyor, an auxiliary feed for supplying fur to the conveyor including a housing over the conveyor and a blower for feeding finely separated fur and air to the housing, means for intermittently feeding fur to the blower, and control means for the holder, conveyor and blower feed means interconnected so that the holder, conveyor and blower feed means are operated in certain timed relation to each other, and said control means being arranged to permit movement of the conveyor only when the holder is stationary and operation of the blower feed means only when the conveyor is stationary.

4. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers including a movable foraminous screen adapted to hold fur, means for transferring fur from the screen to the former, means for intermittently moving the screen to deliver fur to the transfer means, means for delivering a current of air to the screen, means for feeding fur to said current of air for deposit on the screen, a movable conveyor for delivering fur to said latter a housing over the conveyor, a blower for delivering a stream of air with finely separated fur to said housing for deposit of the fur on the conveyor, means for intermittently feeding fur to the blower for delivering fur'and air to the housing, and control means for the screen and conveyor moving means and the blower feeding means interconnected so that the screen, conveyor and blower feeding means are operated in certain timed relation to each other, said control means being arranged to permit movement of the screen and operation of the blower feeding means only when the conveyor is stationary and to permit movement of the conveyor only when the screen is stationary.

5. Ina device of the character described, a feederfor hat formers including a rotary drum comprising a foraminous screen, means for transferring fur from the drum to the former, means for intermittently rotating the drum to deliver fur, to the transfer means, means fordelivering a current of air to the screen, a movable conveyor, means for delivering fur from the conveyor to the current of air for deposit on the screen, means for intermittently moving the conveyor to feed fur to the delivering means, a housing over the conveyor, an auxiliary feed for delivering finely divided fur and air to the housing for deposit of the fur on the conveyor, means for inter mittently operating the auxiliary feed, and interconnected control means for the drum, conveyor and auxiliary feed operating means so that they operate in certain timed relation with each other and arranged to permit operation of the drum and the auxiliary feed only when the conveyor is stationary and operation of the conveyor only when the drum is stationary.

6. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers including a rotary drum comprising a foraminous screen, means for transferring fur from the drum to the former, means for intermittently rotating the drum to deliver fur to the transfer means, means for delivering a current of air to the screen, a movable conveyor, means for delivering fur from the conveyor to the current of air for deposit on the screen, means for intermittently moving the conveyor to feed fur to the delivering means, a housing over the conveyor, an auxiliary feed for delivering finely divided fur and air to the housing for deposit of the fur on the conveyor, means for intermittently operating the auxiliary feed, control means for the drum, conveyor and auxiliary feed operating means adapted to start movement of the drum, arrest movement of the conveyor and start operation of the auxiliary feed, and automatic means to stop the auxiliary feed after the drum has made a given movement, stop the drum after the fur has been transferred and then start the conveyor.

7. In a device of the character described, a

feeder for hat formers including a, movable holder for fur, means for transferring fur from said holder to the former, means for intermittently driving the holder, means for feeding fur to the holder including a movable conveyor, means for intermittently driving the conveyor, an auxiliary feed for supplying fur to the conveyor including a housing over the conveyor and a blower for feeding finely separated fur and air to the housing, means for intermittently feeding fur to the blower, personally operable control means for the operating means for the holder, the conveyor and the blower feed arranged to start operation of the holder and blower feed and stop movement of the conveyor, and automatic means to stop the blower feed and holder after given movement of the latter and start the conveyor. I

8. In a device of the character described, a

feeder for hat formers including a rotatable fo-- raminous drum, means for transferring fur from the drum to the former, means for rotating the drum to supply the fur to said means, means for feeding a current of air and fur to the drum, a movable conveyor for supplying fur to the latter means, means for intermittently operating the conveyor, a housing over the conveyor, a blower for separating fur and feeding itwith air to said housing for deposit of the fur on the conveyor, means for feeding fur to the blower, a control member connected with the drum, stop means adapted to cooperate with said member to arrest movement of the drum, a cam disc connected to rotate with the drum and provided with a cam and a stop shoulder,' means controlled by said cam for operating the blowerfeed, stop means adapted to cooperatewith said shoulder, and control means including means to control the drum and conveyor operating means and also control said stop means.

9. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers comprising a rotatable foraminous drum, means for driving thedrum, means for transferring fur from the moving drum to the former, a stop means and a cam operable with said drum, means for supplying fur to the drum including a movable conveyor, means for transferring fur from the conveyor to the drum, means for operating the conveyor, an auxiliary feeder including a housing over the conveyor, a blower for delivering air and finely separated fur to the housing for deposit of fur on the conveyor, a control for the drum and conveyor driving means arranged to operate either the drum or the conveyor only when the other is station? ary, means for feeding fur to the blower, a con,- trol means for the blower feed controlled by said cam and arranged to deliver fur to the blower and therefore to the housing only when the conveyor is stationary, and means operating the stop means to arrest movement of the drum and cam after transfer of the fur to the former.

10. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers comprising a rotatable foraminous drum, means for driving the drum, means for transferring fur from the moving drum to the former, means for supplying fur to the drum including a movable conveyor, means for transferring fur from the conveyor to the drum, means for driving the conveyor, an auxiliary feeder including a housing over the conveyor, a blower for delivering air and finely separated fur to the housing for deposit of the fur on the conveyor, a control for the drum and conveyor driving means arranged to operate either the drum or the conveyor only when the other is stationary, and a control means for controlling delivery of fur to the blower, said latter control means being connected with the drum and arranged to permit said blower to supply fur to the housing only when the conveyor is'stationary.

11. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers including a movable conveyor, means for transferring fur from the con veyor to the former including a rotary foram inous drum adapted to receive fur from the conveyor, means for intermittently rotating the drum for transfer of fur therefrom to the former, and an auxiliary feeder for feeding fur to the conveyor comprising a housing over the conveyor, a blower for separating fur and feeding it with air to the housing, means for controlling feed of fur to the blower, and interconnected control means for the blower feed control, conveyor and drum so that they are operated in certain timed relation to each other, said control means being arranged to permit operation of the conveyor only when the blower feed and drum are not operating.

12. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers including a movable conveyor, means for intermittently operating said conveyor, means for transferring fur from the conveyor to the former, and an auxiliary feeder including a housing over the conveyor, means for feeding fur in a finely separated condition with air to the housing while the conveyor is stationary to settle on said conveyor, and interconnected control means for the fur feeding means, conveyor and fur transfer means so that they are automatically operated in certain timed relation to each other, and said control means being ar-.

ranged to permit feed of fur to the conveyor and to the former only when the conveyor is stationary.

13. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers including a movable conveyor, means for intermittently operating said conveyor, means for receiving fur from the moving conveyor and delivering it to the former, and an auxiliary feeder for feeding fur to the first feeder including a housing over the conveyor, a blower for separating the fur and feeding it with air to the housing, means for controlling feed of fur to the blower, and means for operating the control means connected with the conveyor operating means and arranged to permit feed of fur to the blower for feed to the housing only when the conveyor is stationary.

14. In a device of the character described, a feeder for hat formers including a movable conveyor, means for transferring fur from the conveyor to the former, means for driving the conveyor and the fur transferring means alternately and intermittently, and an auxiliary feeder for feeding fur to the conveyor comprising a housing over the conveyor, a blower comprising a housing and a toothed drum and suction fan in said latter housing, said fan being located at one end of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 13,613 Arneson et al Oct. 2, 1855 13,614 Arneson et al Oct. 2, 1855 25,168 Arneson Aug. 23, 1859 230,833 Starr Aug. 3, 1880 1,598,429 Fitch Aug. 31, 1926 1,802,249 Goldberg Apr. 21, 1931 2,207,407 Kane July 9, 1940 

